It was at the end of added time that everything was decided. Jostled by the National 2 residents, particularly in the second period, the Reds had to wait until the 93rd minute to score this second liberating goal which propelled them to the next round of the Coupe de France!
It was not by dominating, but thanks to the encouragement of the courageous supporters who made the trip to Chasselay and their mentality of steel, that the Reds won. First ahead in the score before being joined, it was the entrants who made the difference at the end of the game, notably thanks to the impetus of Kapit Djoco, left on the bench by Laurent Guyot, just like the bosses of the middle field, Ahmed Kashi and Vincent Pajot. “I wasn't expecting a simple match and it wasn't, due to the quality of the opponent and the difficult playing conditions for both teams. It made for a match that was suspenseful and quite choppy all the same. At half-time, I told the players that the hardest part was not done and what I feared a little happened because we were less good compared to what we did during our latest services. There were changes too, executives who weren't there whose input did us good. It's also an opportunity for me to see in difficult conditions what certain players can do and some have shown interesting things. But the main thing in the Coupe de France is to be in the next round. It was important to end the year on a good note, frankly! And then, what's more, I don't know why, it's a feeling but I didn't feel the penalties today. I'm happy we came out like that in stoppage time.”
Due to the significant number of absentees in his squad, coach Guyot reshuffled his eleven by reinstating Karim Cissé and Axel Drouhin, back from injury. In the middle of the field, a new composition presented itself with Bermont, Josué. T, and Valme in position number 6!
From the start of the match, on a pitch typical of the posters of the competition, the Reds showed their intention by confiscating the ball with multiple incursions into the opposing half until the first thrill in front of Lucas Marsella's cage where Dago n really came close to scoring a third goal in this 2024/25 edition of the Coupe de France (19'). It was from this action that Thomas Callens' teammates really created danger. Firstly on the first corner of the game obtained by Josué. T (27') and the opening score came from a new set piece, one of the Annecy players' specialties. After a festival by Cissé in the area, where his attempt was pushed back for a corner, Demoncy drew his right foot directly at the near post on the head of Axel Drouhin, number 18, always as comfortable in this exercise of tall, measuring 1.87 meters tall, scored his third goal of the season, the third with a skull (32').
After the break, the GOALois came back determined to reverse the trend, showing themselves to be dangerous on several occasions, notably thanks to Kamel Bennekrouf. It was also the captain, alone in the area, who equalized (52'). Following this equalization, our technician called on his executives to bring a little serenity and calm into the Reds' game, by launching captain Kashi, Pajot, and Djoco (62'). The first heat of this second period came after a recovery from Kashi. Josué T. crossed in a mess in the area, where Bermont presented himself, but his shot was finally blocked by a double intervention from the defense of the National 2 residents (67'). Time passed, the minutes passed, and the two coaches began to prepare for a possible penalty shootout by making changes. Laurent Guyot used his last two cartridges at 90+1 by launching Quentin Paris and Noha Lemina. At the end of added time, Djoco accelerated down the left side and crossed towards Lemina, who saw his run cut off by Nathan Tanard, propelling the ball into the back of the net to snatch the victory in the very last seconds! “It looked complicated but we were able to come in with a goal in advance at half-time,” confides Axel Drouhin to Dauphiné Libéré. We wanted to pass the second layer but the magic of the Coupe de France meant that we were caught again before giving us a little help at the end to score this goal with the desire and a small error from their leaves. The pitch didn't help us but it was for both teams. We are completing a remarkable year 2024, we can applaud ourselves and come back from vacation with even more desire. For the next round, we want to dream. We would like to play a Ligue 1 to compete at a higher level and experience great emotions. »
The Savoyards make their return in the round of 16, joining Bastia, Espaly, Haguenau, Laval, Troyes and LOSC, also qualified last night.
M.T.
Technical sheet:
GOAL FC – FC Annecy : 1-2 (0-1)
32nd final of the Coupe de France
Stade Ludovic Giuly
Arbitre: Judge Ben El Hadj
Goals for FCA: Drouhin (32') and Tanard (CSC 90+3') goal for GOAL: Bennekrouf (53')
Warning to FCA: Josué. T (90')
GOAL FC: Marseille – Mabanza, Tanard, Bever (Kaba 86'), Dufau – Egny, Gameiro, Fichten (Macon 78') – Bennekrouf (Kouassi 78'), Zerfaoui (Reale (90+4') and N'Dabrou ( Arab 87')
FC Annecy : Callens – Delphis, Kouadio, Drouhin, Nsakala – Valme (Kashi 61'), Josué. T (Paris 90+1'), Bermont (Lemina 90+1'), Dago (Djoco 61'), Demoncy et Cissé (Pajot 61')
